Grave-vault safe



(No Model.)

mm. GRAVE VAULT SAFE.

No. 582,236. Patented May 11, 1897..

fi'irzesses UNITED STATES FREDERICK SEAS, OF ORRVILLE, OHIO.

GRAVE-VAU LT SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,236, dated May 11, 1897. Application filed August 25, 1896. Serial No. 603,8 88. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SEAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orrville, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave-Vault Safes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which Figure 1 is a view showing the manner of locking the cover to the body of the safe. Fig. 2 is a detached View of one of the securingbars. Fig. 3 is a section showing the arrangement of the different metal bars and their manner of connection. Fig. 4 is a view showing the cover partially closed and one of the locking-dogs. Fig. 5 is a detached view of one of the locking-clogs and its spring. Fig. 6 is a detached View of one of the lug-bolts for connecting the securing-bars.

The present invention has relation to gravevault safes; and it consists in the different parts and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings,A represents the safe proper, which is formed of a size to correspond substantially with the size of the rough box and coffin designed to be placed therein. To the safe A is hinged the cover B, which cover when closed forms the top of the safe proper.

The safe A and its cover B consist of metallic bars, such as a and I), crossed at right angles and securely riveted together, thereby forming a safe for the purpose designed, consisting in what might be termed latticework. The cover B is constructed in substantially the same way and when closed a rectangular receptacle is produced.

For the purpose of providing a water-tight receptacle for the coffin a metal lining may be provided, which may be located upon the inside of the safe A, or it may be located upon the inner side of the rough box, it being immaterial at which place it is located. The

when pressure is brought upon them, but not otherwise. To the flange c are securely attached the blocks d, which blocks are provided with the recesses d To the lockingdogs d are attached in any convenient and wellknown manner the springs of, which springs extend upward and are so arranged that as the cover B is closed the bar 6 will come in contact with said springs and press them downward, and at the same time the blocks d will come in contact with the opposite ends of the locking-clogs d and force the ends of the locking-dogs adjacent to the blocks 01 downward until the recesses d come in line horizontally with the pivotal points of the locking-dogs, at which time the springs (1 will oscillate the locking-dogs, thereby causing the ends of the locking-dogs to enter the recesses (Z and securely lock the cover in a closed position. The locking-dogs d are forced into locking contact by means of the corneriron a pressing upon the springs 61 It will be understood that all of the rivets used in connecting the different bars compos ing the metallic receptacle should have their heads countersunk into the bars, so as to prevent their outer heads from being cut with a chisel or like tool. If desired, the receptacle composed of the metallic bars may be inclosed in cement, thereby securely fixing said receptacle in proper position.

In use the receptacle is placed in the bottom of the grave and the cover turned upward, after which the articles designed to be placed in said receptacle are properly arranged and the cover closed and looked, as above described. 7

It will be understood that by my peculiar arrangement a safe will be provided that cannot be opened, thereby preventing the body contained in the coffin from being removed.

For the purpose of preventing the side of the receptacle from being pressed inward so as to disengage the dogs cl from the blocks cl the staybars d are provided, which stay-bars are provided with the right-angled portions d, which portions come upon the inside of the upper bar a.

By my peculiar manner of construction I am enabled to provide a safe for the reception of the dead that will be proof against grave-robbers, and at the same time the device will be light and easily transported.

For the purpose of binding the cover the bars Gare provided, which may be located as illustrated in Fig. 5 and are for the purpose of securely binding the cover B in a closed position. The bars G are each provided with the hooked ends f, which hooked ends come under the top or upper bar a, as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be understood that any desired number of bars, such as G, may be employed without departing from the nature of my invention, and they may be located at any desired point or points.

The bolt 13' is substantially of the form shown in Fig. 6, and, as shown, it is provided with the notch 11, which notch is located below the head of the bolt. The object or purpose of providing the notch 12 is to weaken the bolt at the point where the notch is lo 'cated, so that after the bars G have been secured to the safe proper the heads I) can be easily broken oit, thereby preventing the bolts from being loosened or removed by the use of a wrench.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a receptacle for the dead consisting of the bars a and b secured together at their crossed points, a hinged cover of like construction the blocks cl provided with the recesses 61 the locking-dogs 01 provided with the springs (1 and the corner-iron a, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2; The combination of the receptacle consisting of the bars a and b, a hinged cover of like construction,the bars G, located as shown, and the bolts B provided with the notches I) located below the bolt-heads, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses;

FREDERICK SEAS.

W'itnesses:

E. N. FREEMAN, JNo. D. HALL. 

